“Now, we’re starting...?”
“Yeah.”
At my answer, Seon Ah hyun nodded vigorously. He settled into place with a mixture of tension and anticipation on his face.
And he wasn’t the only one wearing that expression.
After filming wrapped, everyone who’d joined us had heard that Ryu Geon woo’s memories would return, so they’d gathered in the living room.
They all looked nervous, but Big Sejin tried to lighten the mood with a casual remark.
“Hyung, in a few seconds you’ll have a bunch of little brothers. How’s that sound? Should be fun~”
“Sure. Though that’s not really # Nоvеlight # the point.”
...!
Steer Ryu Geon woo’s answer sounded almost cold. But it didn’t come from dissatisfaction—he simply spoke in his natural tone, more genuine than when he’d been forcing himself to seem gentle before.
He smiled softly, and Big Sejin laughed too.
“It’s nice to see you relaxed!”
“Thanks.”
Ryu Geon woo turned his head toward me.
“All right. I’ll find them now.”
I nodded, then checked the status window.
[Would you like to reboot ‘Company’?]
The moment I rebooted this, Ryu Geon woo—just like Steer Cha Yoo jin—would regain his memories. I’d tinkered with the system, trying to keep the preview mode active alongside reboot, fearing he might refuse if he got shocked by suddenly remembering.
“You, Kim Rae bin—your symptoms appeared a bit later than Cheon woo’s, so take your time. No need to rush.”
“...?? I never said I didn’t want my memories back...”
“Oh.”
“My expectation is high—I think regaining my memories will bring new experiences for my composing style!”
...So he said.
‘Did I really need to tinker with the system?’
The effort felt almost wasted. But anyway, time to execute the plan. I removed my hand from my brow and spoke calmly.
“I’m going to press it now. Just lie down when I say.”
Based on previous cases, I thought there was a high chance he’d fall asleep, so I offered it as a suggestion.
Steer Ryu Geon woo lay down on the living room sofa without protest.
“Is this okay?”
“Yes.”
I confirmed he was comfortably settled, that he was mentally ready, and then activated the status window.
‘Reboot.’
Flash.
Light burst from the popup. But whether the holographic glow dazzled him or not, Ryu Geon woo remained motionless, quietly exhaling as if drifting into a peaceful sleep.
“.......”
“Hyung?”
No response. Steer Ryu Geon woo just lay there, looking calm enough to nearly shield my popup light without meaning to.
“.......”
“Let’s wait.”
“Okay.”
To avoid disturbing him in this deep unconscious state, we moved quietly. On that holiday afternoon, the living room stayed silent for hours.
That evening.
screeeech.
I was frying eggs in the kitchen when I heard a scream behind me.
“Oh my, hyung!”
It was Cha Yoo jin, on monitoring duty for Geon woo from 5 to 6 p.m. That meant...
‘He’s awake.’
I turned off the stove and spun around. In the living room, Ryu Geon woo sat up on the sofa in disarray. His head was bowed, hiding his expression, and one hand pressed against his forehead.
But Cha Yoo jin wasted no time.
“Mundae hyung makes something delicious! Let’s go!”
...Before asking if he was okay?
‘You just wanted to eat it yourself, didn’t you?’
When Cha Yoo jin tugged at his arm, Geon woo forced a bright smile despite his puffy face.
“...Really? Thanks......”
“...!!”
Even in this chaotic moment, his response was gentle and comforting—exactly how someone accustomed to such situations would react.
Bae Sejin, who rushed over, asked with wide eyes.
“...Geon woo?”
“Yeah.”
He smoothed his rumpled clothes, pushed his hair back, and fully sat up. A slightly embarrassed smile lingered at the corner of his mouth—just like the Ryu Geon woo we knew.
“Thanks for all your hard work, everyone.”
That was enough.
“Hyung!”
“Aigo, our leader hyung is back~!”
Instantly, the living room erupted as if at a family reunion. Several of them embraced Geon woo, and he, mildly flustered, patted each of their backs.
“Sejin especially did great. You said whatever needed saying in the schedule.”
And then he added:
“There were a lot of members confused by their memories besides me. I’m sorry I just took help instead of looking after you all.”
“Nah, we need days like this so we can repay you for what you usually do~”
“No, still, thank you.”
He answered firmly, then looked around as if searching for someone.
‘Well, only one person’s missing from the circle, so I know who you’re looking for.’
Me.
“What about you, Mundae...”
“......”
I was holding a crab.
“...??”
Not cooked crab—the live one marinated in soy sauce. I snapped off the carapace, and with a satisfying crack revealed the yellow roe packed inside. It was ganjang gejang made from a plump crab.
“Please have some.”
“......”
I didn’t choose it—it was the meal his parents had picked. Honestly, I hadn’t had time to do anything else, so it was a relief. If it’s from a renowned place, at least it should taste good.
“Hyung, I even took a call taxi to buy it just now, Mundae hyung!”
Counting cooking time, it was cheap.
“Mundae, you should’ve told me—we could’ve done rock-paper-scissors for it...”
Mine would’ve been more reliable.
“You needed to rest too, Mundae.”
That was clear enough. I hadn’t actually done much—just fried eggs and pulled crab.
“It’s ready now. Please eat.”
He probably hadn’t eaten anything today. I nodded and waited for him to sit down.
“All right.”
Ryu Geon woo smiled sheepishly, joined me at the table, and everyone else found their seats. They eagerly struck up conversation with him.
“Wow, even without memories, hyung wraps things up smoothly with no incidents.”
“Y-yeah!”
“Right? Cha Yoo jin tried to run off.”
“I went to the sea. No harm done!”
“Hey, we couldn’t sleep that night...”
The table quickly turned lively. Geon woo looked momentarily embarrassed, then laughed freely.
“Yoo jin was your first time. It’s understandable. I’m the one who should apologize for not showing maturity.”
“Hyung......”
He answered each member’s questions about his condition sincerely as they ate. And he didn’t forget to say:
“I’ll contact the company starting today.”
“....Okay.”
I nodded and turned my gaze to the table spread—rice with crab, butter, and eggs.
“......”
Ryu Geon woo barely touched it, eating plain rice instead.
‘Hmm.’
I watched him carefully.
Ryu Geon woo only got a chance to collect his thoughts when he went in to shower.
“Phew.”
Up until then, he’d spent all his time reassuring the other members. Of course he had no time to think properly. Thinking about what he’d done for those kids back when he only had past memories was so embarrassing it renewed his resolve. A slump turning into self-pity.
‘I was childish.’
But now he’d done what needed to be done. Even Kim Rae bin, who hadn’t regained memories yet, seemed relieved.
‘Good.’
As always, Testar Ryu Geon woo regained his strong mentality without overthinking. He belonged to a great team and handled his tasks well. He reflected on his debut and everything since, calming his mood.
When he finished his shower, clearing his mind so it wouldn’t drift darkly...
“...?!”
“A, you’re out.”
His roommate Cha Yoo jin wasn’t there. Instead, at the table between the two beds sat... Park Mundae. Or rather, it felt more like Ryu Geon woo’s cousin, Ryu Geon woo was the cousin’s hyung.
Without hesitation, he spoke casually, grabbing things on the table and straightening them—a few pungent ingredients and... bottles of alcohol. Ryu Geon woo had laid out a drinking spread.
He was momentarily speechless before finding his voice.
“Hyung, alcohol is...”
“We all agreed it’s okay to drink sometimes.”
But it wasn’t a single can of beer—it was a pile of wine.
“......”
Is this really all right? Ryu Geon woo looked at his cousin with half reluctance, half worry, then cautiously sat across from him.
‘What did I do wrong?’
He pondered briefly, then realized the answer.
‘Ah.’
At dinner, I hadn’t given him much thought. He could reasonably feel upset—I must’ve gone to the trouble of calling around to learn his favorite restaurant, yet I’d been too busy to eat properly myself.
‘I’m sorry.’
He intended to apologize immediately, but his cousin spoke first.
“I’ve got something to say.”
“Go ahead.”
Ryu Geon woo straightened his posture, like a junior sipping drinks with a superior after making a mistake. But Ryu Geon woo’s cousin didn’t mention any fault.
“I heard this from someone I know.” He continued slowly with words he’d heard before.
“When faced with fear and pain... it’s normal to get angry, to blame others, and it’s okay.”
“......”
Ryu Geon woo’s eyes widened. His cousin smiled and reached for a glass on the table.
“If it was okay for me, it’s even more okay for you.”
Because he was telling him this as its original speaker.
—People can’t always live rationally.
Ryu Geon woo looked at the table piled with drinks and finally understood the déjà vu’s cause. The Summer Package. The scene his cousin recreated exactly from the day he confided in Mundae hyung.
‘Ah.’
Ryu Geon woo closed and opened his eyes slowly. His cousin held out the glass.
“You did well.”
Wine poured in. Ryu Geon woo stared at it blankly, then reached out, grabbed the glass, and lifted it to his lips.
“......”
He was too strong to get drunk on this. But the fact that he wanted to drink made him realize:
‘I wanted to run away.’
He’d been deliberately avoiding recalling his Steer memories because the very act of remembering felt repulsive. He could dismiss his Steer self as childish only for what he’d done here. Only now, after regaining solid mental footing, could he see it clearly.
“At the time, I actually...”
“......”
His cousin wondered inwardly, ‘And you?’ But Ryu Geon woo said nothing—just quietly finished the wine in his glass.
“......”
His cousin didn’t push him. They slowly emptied one bottle, then opened another.
“Want more?”
“Yeah.”
They opened one more bottle. That was all. His cousin never demanded anything of him. Sometimes, that was enough.
Testar rested fully until the next day. Moving between rooms to chat was all they did. Even Big Sejin skipped his workout, and Ryu Geon woo did too.
Bae Sejin saw how much they’d drunk and looked like he had plenty to say, but held back. Time passed leisurely. After dinner, they all gathered in the living room to finally watch their recently released competition stage.
“Wow, of course Testar’s stage is amazing.”
“Right? I especially loved that part.”
Conversation flowed without tension.
“I can’t wait to see our unit’s stage too.”
“Me too...!”
“Rae bin, how about you? You did the rearrangement~”
“...! Of course I—I’d love to see it again!”
“Oooooh.”
They talked about when Kim Rae bin might regain memories and what he might want to do first. They enjoyed a relaxing break. Still, Testar on screen looked stunning. Even reading the cringey subtitles, they giggled with excitement.
[Stage of the KPOP Monarch Who Enchants the Audience]
“Our monarch?”
“Uhhaha!”
Soft applause followed. Big Sejin grabbed the phone to take a group selfie for fans, and Park Mundae picked the shot. Ryu Geon woo watched this comforting scene in his relaxed mind.
Just then the show they’d appeared on, , ended.
ding.
[Realization.]
With an eerie minor-key resonance, an ad began on the TV screen.
“Oh? That...”
It was a familiar voice.
[In this building, strange shadows]
After the narration, desolate corridors and emergency stairs flashed by—images from a fantasy-infused thriller.
[They’re coming for you.]
thud, thud, thud.
In time with the sound, close-ups of actors under red and blue lights appeared—among them, Bae Sejin staring into the camera!
“Oooooh! Sejin hyung!”
“W-wow...!”
[The Doll Hunter]
[Thursday, October 31, NetPlus]
That’s right. This was the drama Bae Sejin had filmed!
“Hyung, it looks amazing...!”
“I heard you’re the protagonist’s friend!”
“Right, that was my role, right? Sejin, congrats!”
The members enthusiastically patted Bae Sejin’s shoulder and back. Even Park Mundae smiled and spoke.
“It must be releasing soon.”
“....Yeah. Uh-huh.”
Bae Sejin nodded, though sweat beaded at his temples.
‘I haven’t told them yet...!’
Bae Sejin,
three days until the big reveal of the psychopath role.
